1 / 3
Premium MILLON
115
-
Alexandre Evguenevitch IACOVLEFF (Saint Petersburg, 1887 - P…
See original version (French)
115
-
Alexandre Evguenevitch IACOVLEFF (Saint Petersburg, 1887 - P…
See original version (French)
Estimate €15,000 - €20,000
Voluntary lot
Description
Alexandre Evguenevitch IACOVLEFF (Saint Petersburg, 1887 - Paris, 1938)
Portrait of Rakan Sheikh of Sha'a (1931)
Pastel, red chalk and black chalk on paper, unsigned, titled, located and dated lower left "Rakan / Sheikh of Sha'a /Palmyra / 9 April 1931". Framed.
H. 67 x W. 51 cm (view).
History
Alexandre Iacovleff (1887-1938), a Russian-born painter trained in Saint Petersburg, is best known for his extensive travels in Africa and Asia in the 1920s and 1930s, notably as part of the Citroën expeditions, as a member of the Croisière Noire and then the Croisière Jaune. These experiences had a profound effect on his work, in which he developed an eye for the people he met that was both precise, almost documentary, and profoundly human. This portrait, taken in Palmyra in January 1931, is part of this period of travel. It shows Rakan, Sheikh of the Sha'a, in a simple, seated pose, but with a very strong presence. Here Iacovleff works in chalk and pastel, with a palette dominated by warm ochres that directly evoke the Syrian desert landscape.
There is a striking contrast between the rather free treatment of the clothing, laid down in large, rapid masses, and the precision of the face and hands. Iacovleff's direct, almost motionless gaze gives the portrait its strength and reflects the attention he paid to his models, who were often portrayed with dignity and without exaggerated exoticism. This work is typical of his travel work: halfway between a study on the spot and a finished portrait, it shows his ability to capture a personality quickly, while anchoring the figure in its cultural environment.
A certificate from Madame Caroline Haardt de la Baume, n°171-17, dated 22/09/2017, will be given to the buyer.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like